Refrigerating machine



, July 2, 1929.

A. A. KUCHEVR REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1923 AH. Ifu cher INVENTOR ATTORNEY- Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PA-TENT OFFICE.

ANDREW A. KUCHER, oE CHESTER, PENNSYLVAN A, ASSICNOH'TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

HEERIGERATING MACHINE.

Application filed, December 28, 1923. Serial NO. 683,156.-

of such physical proportions as to permit of ready installation within the ice compartment of the average household refrigerator box. It has for a further object to provide a capable and efiicient machine of such simple construction as to permit of a considerable reduction in the manufacturing costs of apparatus of this type.

. These and other objects, which will be made apparent throughout the further description of the invention, may be attained by the em ployment of the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a view in sectional elevation of one form of my refrigerating machine. 1

It has usually been found necessary E associate with refrigerating machines heretofore developed, a refrigerator box of such special design as to be adapted to cooperate with and form an integral part of the' machine. Furthermore, apparatus of this type has usually employed a motor of such ample power as to be capable ofmaintaining, by onlyintermittent operation, the desired temperatures within the refrigerator box, which type of operation has necessitated the employment of control devices for automatically starting and stopping the motor. All of the above features cooperate to provide a niachine, the manufacturing cost of which is considerable.

In my apparatus, I provide a refrigerating machine which is a single, self-contained unit and which does not require the association therewith of any special type ofv refrigerator box, the machine being so constructed as to permit of ready installation in the ice chambers of most household boxes. Furthermore,

I employ a motor of only sufficient power to maintain, by continuous operation, the desired temperature within the refrigerator box. I have found the electrical power'thus consumed, is no greater than with the inter.-

mittently' operated type of apparatus, and,

as no automatic control devices are required, a considerable economy in the manufacturing cost is effected. The above basic features, combined with numerous other novel details of construction hereinafter described, co-

operate to provide a refrigerating machine of extremely low manufacturing cost and capable of operating effectively and cheaply under the exacting requirements of household use, with little or noattention.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description of my invention, I'show an evaporating chamber 10 having vertical heat-absorbing walls 11 and a horizontal heatabsorbing wall 12. The evaporator 10 is preferably of annular conformation and-has inner walls 13 and 14 within which is disposed a condensing chamber 15 havingwalls 16 and 17 spaced from the interior walls 13 and 14 ofthe evaporation chamber and the walls 16 and 17 of the condensing chamber, comprises an insulating or vacuum chamber 18 for retarding the conduction of heat from the condensing chamber to the evaporating chamber. A

The lower ends of the evaporating chamber 10 and of the vacuum chamber 18 are both closed by a common sealing ring 19 which may be welded or secured thereto in any improved manner. Arranged in the upper portion of the condensing chamber 15 are a' plurality pf condensing coils 21 having an inlet connection 22 and an outlet connection (not shown), both of which are equipped with end fittings 23 adapted to receive aflexible hose or tube such as 24. r

.Disposed below the condensing coils 21 is a pressure-reducing valve 27. The inlet of the reducing valve 27 communicates with-the condensing, chamber 15 while the outlet is connected through a conduit 28 and a passage 29 with the evaporating chamber 10. A con--- duit 31 communicates with the passage 29 and extends into the lower portion ofthe evaporating chamber for the discharge of the liquid working fluid. The reducing valve 27 is actuated by a float 33 connected thereto by a lever 34, y l 1 Disposed within the condensing chamber 15 is a structural member 36 embodying a compressor housing 37, a motor housing 38-, a receptacle 39 and a flange portion 41 which is secured to the sealing ring 19 by bolts 42 and forms a fluid-tight closure for the condensing' chamber. Secured to the flange portion 41 are feet or skids 43 for supportlng the machin'e They are so constructed as not to interfere with the free circulation of air about the Outer surfaces of the machine. Disrelative freedom of axial movement between the shafts. Rigidly secured to the compres-' posed in the motor housing 38 is a driving motor 44 and secured to the structural mem-,-

sor shaft 49 is a rotor 51 disposed within the compressor housing 37: An end plate 52 is 15 secured by bolts 53 to the housing 37 and forms a supporting bearing 54 for the upper end of the compressor shaft 49 and a retainer for the compressor rotor 51. The discharge port 55 of the compression mechanism is con-" nected to a discharge conduit 56 having its upper end open and disposed in such ma'Iiner as to cause the fluid discharged there from to impinge uponthe upper wall 17 of the condensing chamber. A conduit 57 is provided for conveying the liquid contained in the receptacle 39 to the bearing 54, which liquid serves as a lubricant. This lubricant,

after passing downwardly through the working clearances provided in the compression mechanism is caught in an oil retainer 60 provided on the motor shaft 47 and fixedly secured thereto. Communicating means 61 is provided between the oil retainer 60 and the hollow portion of the motor shaft 47 for draining the retainerfree of the lubricant. My oil-retainer 60 is so designed that the static pressure of the lubricant accumulating therein is suflicient to overcome the action of centrifugal force and the lubricant, therefore, drains inwardly towards the center of the shaft through the opening 61.

The lubricant passing downwardly through the hollow motor shaft 47 collects ina c1rcular recess 62 provided in the removable plate 46, and lubricates the lower bearing 48. An annular guard ring 63, which is fixedly secured to the removable plate 46 'and slidably engages the motor shaft 47, is provided above the bearing 48 for preventing creepage of lubricant towards the motor. For removing lubricant from the lower portion of.

the motor. chamber, a passage 64 is provided in the removable plate 46, which passage communicates with a conduit65. The conduit 65 extends upwardly and terminates in the uppermost portion of the evaporating chamber.

Arranged concentrically without the upper portion of the conduit 65 and having its inlet 1 end disposed below the end of the said conduit 65, is a suction conduit 66 for removing refrigerant vapor from the evaporator. The suction conduit 66 communicates with a suction'passage 67 provided in the compressor housing 37 and this passage in turn communicates with theinlet port 68 of the compression mechanism.- Provided in .the suctionv conduit 66 is a restricted opening 69 which is disposed slightly below the level of theliquid working fluid in the evaporating chamber for the entrainment of a limited quantity of liquid working fluid in the vapor passing downwardly through the suction conduit 66. A conduit 7 0 extends from the lower portion of the vacuum chamber 18 to the vicinity of the inlet end of the suction conduit 66. Fluidtight conductors 71 are provided in the reof the evaporator 10 is provided with itdlOl-i low insulated cover 75 forming an ice-making compartment 76 therewith. Iceinolds, such as 77, may be placed within this compartment. "The insulated cover 7 5 is provided with a handle 78 to facilitate removal of the ice. The upper horizontal heat-absorbing surface 12 of the evaporator is further provided with a plurality of. radially-extending heat-conducting fins 81 which are rigidly secured thereto and which extend downwardly into the liquid working fluid. .I have found from experiment that construction such as this materially aids in the rapid conduction of heat from the ice-making compartment. Should it be desired at any time to suspend the proeess of manufacturing ice, the cover 75 together with the molds 77 may be very easily removed and the heat-absorbing surface 12 directly exposed to the interior of the refrigerator box.

Having thus described one form of my invention the operation thereof is as follows: The evaporating chamber 10, the condensing chamber 15,-and the receptacle 39 are filled to levels A, B and C, such as indicated on the drawing, with a suitable Working fluid. The working fluid generally employed in my tipparatus is a combination of a lubricant and a refrigerantwhich readily mix, one with the other, to form ahomogeneous liquid or physical solution and which I have disclosed in my copending application serially numbered 617 ,884, filedFebruary 8, 1923, and entitled Refrigerators. This working fluid is of such a character that its constituents are mechanically inseparable. Separation may, however, 'take' place by the vaporization of one of the constituents due to suflicient temperature changes.

Upon electric current being conveyed through the cable 72 and'the conductor 71 to the motor 44, the compression mechanism is actuated and discharges through the port 55 and conduit 56 a comingled liquid working fluid and vapor which is impinged upon the upper wall 17 of the condensing chamber. The liquid working fluid and the refrigerant vapor are thereby substantially separated and the liquid falls intothe receptacle 39,

-while the vapor passes outwardly to the condensing coils 21. The liquid working -fluid within the receptacle 39, being subject frigerant contained therein is vaporized off,

leaving a body of liquid containing a-high A percentage of lubricant.

The warm refrigerant vapors passing radially outward come in contact withthe coils 21 and are condensed by the cooling action thereof. The liquid refrigerant falls to the lower portion of the condensing chamber and, upon suflicient rise of liquid level therein, the float 33 moves to open the pressurereducing valve 27 to permit a flow of refrigerant liquid through the conduit 28, the passage 29, and the conduit 31 to the lower portion of the evaporating chamber 10. Gold is then produced in normal manner by the vaporization of the liquid refrigerant. Heat is absorbed through the conducting walls 11 from the surrounding atmosphere and through the conducting wall 12 from the icemaking compartment 76.

The refrigerant vapors generated in the evaporator rise to the upper portion thereof above the level of the liquid and are drawn downwardly through the suction conduit 66. to the passage 67 and thence to the inlet 68 of the compression mechanism. A small amount of liquid working fluid continually flows through the restricted opening 69 and is entrained in the refrigerant vapor passing downwardly through the suction conduit. This liquid working fluid aids in lubricating and sealing the compression mechanism in passing therethroughu The vacuum chamber 18 is continually exhausted by the compression mechanism through the conduit 70 which connects with the yapor-containing portion of the evaporating chamber. In this manner, conductionof heat through the walls of the'condensing chamber to the evaporating chamber is minimized.

Lubrication .of the working parts of-the apparatus is accomplished as follows: The liquid working fluid contained in the receptacle 39, which has been subjected to heat from the compressor and the motor, contains a high percentage of lubricant. It is conveyed by means of the conduit 57 and the difference in pressures prevailing between the condensing chamber 13 and the upper portion of the rotor 51 to the upper bearing 54. It flows downwardly between the working clearances in this hearing to the transverse face of the rotor 51. A portion of the lubricant then flows radially outward along its face and forms avery effective liquid seal, while the remaining portion flows downwardly through the working clearances provided in the mechanism and enters the bearing clearance space provided between the-compressor shaft-49 and the compressor housing 37, because of gravity and the difference in pressures prevailing between the compressor and the rotor housings. As it flows downwardly, it is deposited upon the upper transverse face of the motor shaft 47 and is thrown radially outward by the action of centrifugal force into the arrester 60. The static pressure of the lubricant accumulating in the arrester (S0 is suflicient to overcome centrifugal force, and the lubricant flows radially inward through the opening 61 into the hollow portion of the motor shaft 47.

The lubricant draining downwardly through the motor shaft 47 is deposited in the circular recess 62 and immerses a portion of the bearing 48, thereby lubricating the same; It is removed from this hearing through the passage ()4 and conduit 65 to the uppermost portion of the evaporating' chamber 10 and, because of the relatively lower pressure prevailing therein, flows out of the upper end of the conduit 65 and drains downwardly over the outer surface of this conduit and is entrained in the vapor passing through the suction conduit 66. It is then conveyed in conjunction with the liquid coming through the restricted opening (39 to the inlet of the compression mechanism'and serves to lubricate the working parts in passing therethrough. Upon the refrigerant vapor having entrained therein a quantity of: the lubricant coming through the conduit 65 and a quantity of the liquid working fluid coming through the restricted opening 69 being discharged from the conduit 56, the cycle of operation is completed. I prefer to onerate my machine continuously to obtain the required refrigerating effect, as a low-powered motor may be employed and the lice-cs sity for expensive and intricate automatic starting and stopping appliances is eliminated. I have found the electrical power thus consumed is no greater than that con-- sume'd by the intermittently-operated type of -machine. i

' While I have shown my invention in but one form, it wi'll'be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is seeceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com bination of a condenser, a compressor, motive, means for the compressor, power-transmitting means interposed between the motive means-and the compressor, andan evaporation chamber arranged to house the condenser, the compressor, the motive means and the power-transmitting means.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, the comby the evaporator. Y

' 3. In a refrigerating apparatus, the'combination of an evaporator having a recess, and a condenser, a compressor, a motor together with means fortransmitting torque from'the motor to the compressor arrangedentirely Within the recess of the evaporator. 4. A refrigerating apparatus embodying a condenser, a compressor, motive means for the compressor, means for transmitting power from themotive means to the compressor, and an evaporator-having heat absorbing walls, said first four elements being surrounded by the heat absorbing walls of the evaporator and said evaporator being adapted to be installed in the interior of a refrigerator box.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, said evaporator having a recess provided therein, a closure for the recess, a condenser, a compressor, meansfor driving the compressor, and pow er-transmitting means for connecting the driving means and the compressor, said condenser, compressor, driving means and connecting means disposed Within the recess of the evaporator. I f

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporating chamber, a condensing chamber disposed Within the.evap orating chamber, a rotary compressor, and a motor for driving the compressor, said compressor and said motor being disposed in adjacent end to end relation within the condensing chamber.

7. In a refrigerating. apparatus in Which a refrigerant fluid is successively vaporized, compressed and condensed in a repeating cycle, an evaporating chamber having heat absorbing walls and a condensing chamber, a compressor, means for driving the compressor, and means for transmitting power from the driving means to the compressor located inside the heat absorbing walls.

'8. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporating chamber, of a condensing chamber containing refrigerant fluid disposed within the evaporating chamber, a compressor, and a motor for driving the compressor, said motor being disposed in heatconducting relation with the refrigerant fluid contained in the condensing chamber, whereby the heatof the motor is dissipated through the intermediary of the refrigerating fluid. r

9. In a'refrigerating apparatus in which a "working fluid composed of an intimate mix ture of a refrigerant and a lubricant is employed, the combination of an evaporating chamber, a compression mechanism and a condensing chamber disposed within the evaporating chamber, means for subjecting a quantity of the liquid Working fluid to the heat of the compression mechanism for vaporizing off the refrigerant, and means for conveying the remaining liquid as a lubricant to the working parts of the apparatus.

=10. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is vaporized, compressed and condensed, the combination of an evaporator having a recess. provided therein, a structural member for insertion within the recess of the evaporator, said structural meming a fluid tight housing for the motor and a housing for the compressor and defining with the evaporator a condensing chamber.

12. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is vaporized, compressed and condensed, the combination of an evaporator, a motor disposed Within the evapo-. rator,'a fluid-tight housing for the motor, a compressor disposed Within the evaporator,

' means for supplying a, lubricating fluid to the motor housing for lubricating the motor, and means constituting a fluid-withdrawal path extending between the interior of the motor housing and the inlet of the compressor.

13. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is vaporized, compressed and condensed, the combination of an evaporator, a motor disposed within the evaporator, a fluid-tight housing for the motor, a compressor connected tothe motor, and communicating means between the inlet of the compressor and the motor. housing, whereby the suction pressure of the compressor is substantially maintained in the. motor housing.

14. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a working fluid is vaporized, compressed and condensed, the combination of a condenser, a motor housing, a motor disposed therein, means for supplying a lubricating fluid to the motorhousing for lubricating the motor, a compressor driven by the motor, an evaporator for vaporizing liquid working fluid, and conduit means connecting first with the motor housing forwithdrawing lubricating fluid therefrom, secondly with the evaporator for withdrawing vaporous working fluid therefrom and again with the evaporator for entraining in the evaporator liquid working fluid in the vaporous Working fluid withdrawn therefrom. i

15. Ina refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is vaporized, compressed and condensed and in which a working fluid taining liquid working fluid disposed within the evaporator, a compressor immersed in the liquid working fluid contained 111 the receptacle, whereby the heat of the compressor is utilized to vaporize off the refrigerant contained in the liquid working fluid, and means for conveying the liquid thus treated as lubricant to the working parts of the apparatus.

16, In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is vaporized, compressed and condensed and in which a working fluid composed of an intimate mixture of a refrigerant and a 'lubricant is employed, the combination of an evaporator, a receptacle containing liquid working fluid disposed within the evaporator, a compressor immersed in the liquid working fluid contained in the receptacle, whereby the heat of the compressor is utilized to vaporize off the refrigerant contained in the liquid working fluid, a motor for driving the compressor, and means for,

conveying the-liquid which has been subjected to theheat of the compressor as lubricant to the Working parts of" the compressor and thence to the working parts of the motor.

17. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is vaporized, compressed and condensed and in which a working fluid composed of an intimate mixture of a refrigerant and a lubricant is employed, the combination of an evaporator, a receptacle containing liquid working fluid disposed Within the evaporator, a compressor immersed in the liquid working fluid contained in the receptacle, whereby the heat of the compressor is utilized to vaporize off the refrigerant contained in the liquid working fluid, a motor for driving the compressor, means for conveying the liquid which has been subjected to the heat of the compressor and the motor as lubricant to the Working parts of the compressor and the motor, and means for conveying the lubricant discharged from the compressor and the motor to the inlet of the compressor. 18. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com bination of an evaporating chamber, a condensing chamber disposed within the evaporating chamber, a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor and power-transmitting means connecting the motor and the compressor, said compressor, motor and connecting means being entirely disposed Within the condensing chamber. 19. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporating chamber, a condensing chamber disposed within the evaporating chamber,- insulating means interposed between the two chambers, a compressor, means for driving the compressor,

and power-transmitting means connecting the drivmg means and the compressor, sad

compressor, said driving means and said connectlng means being disposed within the condensing chamber.

20. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a motor, a compressor, an evaporator element, a casingforming a condensing chamber, said casing having an opening provided therein and said casing extending within the evaporator element, and a structural member for housing the motor and the compressor and extending through the opening in the casing into the condensing chamber, said structural member forming a 010- surefor the opening in the casing of the condensing chamber.

21. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of. an evaporator, a condensing chamber disposed within the evaporator, a motor and a compressor disposed Within the condensing chamber and means provided within the condensing chamber for maintaining a predetermined level of liquid working fluid therein.

22. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a condensing 90 chamber disposed within the evaporator, a motor and a compressor disposed Within the condensing chamber, means for conveying liquid working fluid from the condensing chamber to the evaporator, a valve for con trolling the flow of the working fluid, and a float provided within the condensing chamher for actuating the valve.

23. In a refrigerating apparatus in which a refrigerant fluid is continuously circulated in a closed cycle, the combination of a plu-v rality ofice molds, an evaporator for containing a supply of cooling liquid and having a heat-absorbing surface disposed in heatexchanging relation with the ice molds, and structural heat-conducting means provided upon the said heat-absorbing surface of the evaporator and extending inwardly within the evaporator to the supply of cooling liquid contained therein. v

24. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporator, a condensing chamber arranged within the evaporator, a motor and a compressor together with power-transmitting means for connecting the motor and the compressor disposed within the condensing chamber, and an ice-making compartment superimposed upon the evapo rator.

25. In a refrigeratingapparatus, the combination of a compression mechanism, an evaporating chamber,- a condensing chamber, an insulating chamber interposed between the evaporating and the condensing chambers, and means associated with the com pression mechanism for partially evacuating the insulating chamber. p

26. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporating chamber, a -ondensing chamber disposed within the evaporating chamber and maintained in spaced re-' lation thereto, and means for partially evacuating the space intervening between the evaporating and condensing chambers, whereby conduction of heat therebetween is retarded. 27. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporating chamber, a vcondensing chamber disposed within the evaporating chamber, an insulating chamber interposed between the evaporating chamber and the condensing chamber, a compression mechanism disposed within the condensing chamber, and communicating means provided between the insulating chamber and the inlet of the compression mechanism.

28. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of an evaporating chamber, a condensing chamber disposed Within the evaporating chamber, a motor and a compressor disposed within .the condensing chamber, an insulating chamber .interposed between the evaporating and condensing chambers for retarding conduction of heat therebetween,.

and means constituting a fluid-Withdrawal path for. connecting the insulating chamber to the inlet of the compressor, whereby a pressure substantially equal to that of the suction pressure of the compressor is continuously maintained in the insulating chamber during operation of the apparatus.

29. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com binationof a condenser, an evaporator, and a hermetically sealed motor-compressor unit arranged at least partly within the confines of the evaporator.

30. I11 a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of condensing means, a hermetically sealed motor-compressor unit, and an evaporator arranged exteriorly of and around said motor-compressor unit.

31. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of condensing means, a hermetically sealed motor-compressor unit, and an evaporating chamber arranged to house at least a portion of said motor-compressor unit. p

32. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of condensing means, an evaporator, a compressor, a motor, and power-transmitting means for connecting the motor to.

the compressor, said evaporator being arranged to house the compressor, the motor and the power-transmitting means for connectin the motor to the compressor.

'33. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com-- bination of condensing means, a compressor, a motor, power-transmitting means connecting the motor to the compressor, and an evaporator located exteriorly of and extending around the compressor, the motor and the power-transmitting means for connecting the motor to the compressor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of December, 1923.

ANDREW A. KUCHER. 

